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The Isle of Armor.
Challenge Beach had attracted countless trainers from all around the world.
Walking along the shoreline, one could see pairs of trainers competing against each other everywhere.
If you wanted to test your strength through battle, then Challenge Beach was definitely the best location on the Isle of Armor.
Chris and Mustard stood opposite each other. They had chosen Challenge Beach as their battle venue.
The dojo was too cramped to allow them to fight freely. If things got destructive like last time, Mustard's wife would definitely have some words to say.
Chris had actually battled Master Mustard once before. That time had been a training session where the teacher assessed his student's abilities. Back then, Chris hadn't used his full strength, and neither had Mustard.
But now, Chris was coming to challenge him bearing the glory of championship. This wasn't a teacher-student match or a coaching session—this was a championship-level battle.
Facing this legendary trainer who had won eighteen consecutive championships, Chris felt inexplicably nervous. Although Mustard was elderly and both he and his Pokémon had begun declining from their peak competitive condition, he remained a formidable opponent who couldn't be underestimated!
One of the dojo disciples who'd been temporarily recruited to serve as referee swallowed hard and announced loudly, "The battle about to begin is between Trainer Chris and Trainer Mustard!"
"Battle format: four-out-of-six!"
"When all available Pokémon on one side lose their ability to battle, the match is over!"
"Now, both parties, please send out your Pokémon!"
Chris and Mustard simultaneously reached for Poké Balls at their waists, then extended their hands to signal they were ready.
The moment their eyes met, two Poké Balls were thrown into the air simultaneously.
"Pop!" The sound of the Poké Balls opening rang out crisp and clear.
In flashes of silvery light, two Pokémon materialized on the field.
The first Pokémon Mustard sent out was Mienshao—a weasel-like Pokémon with its paws concealed within long, flowing sleeves. It was renowned for its masterful techniques, elegant movements, and swift mobility.
But what concerned Chris more was the level displayed above its head.
Mienshao LV95.
The level was surprisingly high.
Without question, this Mienshao had to be one of Mustard's primary team Pokémon.
Chris's starting Pokémon was Blaziken.
His very first Pokémon should have been the strongest member of his team, but because his other Pokémon were so exceptional, it could only struggle to maintain its position on the edge of his second team.
However, Blaziken had never slacked off in its training. Through relentless effort and the benefit of numerous Secret Treasures, its current strength was leagues beyond what it used to be!
This time, Chris had sent Blaziken into battle to prove itself!
"Skaaa!" Blaziken cried out furiously, its fighting spirit blazing high!
Blaziken LV95.
The referee confirmed both sides were in position, quickly announced "Battle begin!" and then scrambled away. In a battle of this caliber, most people weren't even qualified to spectate.
Neither Chris nor Mustard launched an attack immediately. Instead, they patiently observed their opponent's Pokémon, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Neither gave any commands, as if the battle hadn't truly started yet.
"Ha." Chris smiled, extended his hand, and displayed his Z-Power Bracelet.
"Blaziken, Mega Evolution!"
"Cha!" Blaziken bumped its fists together in front of its chest, and blazing flames erupted from its feet like a volcanic explosion, radiating endless power.
When the flames dissipated, Mega Blaziken stood wrapped in ribbons of fire coiling around its arms.
Mustard raised his eyebrows slightly, but he had no intention of waiting any longer.
"Mienshao, Fake Out!"
Upon receiving the command, Mienshao immediately tapped the ground lightly with its feet, and its figure shot forward.
It wasn't moving particularly fast, but it strangely left afterimages in mid-air. Suddenly, it disappeared as its form passed halfway across the field—vanishing in the blink of an eye.
In less than a heartbeat, Mienshao suddenly reappeared at Blaziken's side.
Its body twisted like a spiral.
It spun through the air and flicked its long sleeve.
The sleeve appeared to be made of cloth, but at that moment it acted like a steel blade, slicing through the air toward Mega Blaziken's face.
Fake Out was a very high-priority move in the games, and its execution speed in reality was naturally astonishingly fast. However, Mustard's Mienshao's surprise attack was so swift that Chris didn't even have time to issue a command in response.
"CLANG!" The muffled sound of violent metal-on-metal collision rang out.
Chris couldn't react in time, but Mega Blaziken could.
From the battle's very start, it had activated its Detect ability.
It lifted its leg for a "Blaze Kick," shifting its body backward while blocking the opponent's attack.
But Mienshao's assault wasn't finished yet. One strike had been blocked, but its spiraling body in mid-air didn't stop. The sleeve that had attacked Mega Blaziken transformed from steel-hard to cloth-soft, easily flowing past. Its body suddenly accelerated, and its other sleeve struck again.
"CLANG!"
The result—blocked once more.
Mienshao, you're not fighting fair! Using Fake Out like "Double Slap"? Well, I can use Blaze Kick as a chain of kicks too!
Mienshao still showed no intention of relenting, dancing like a spiral through the sky.
"CLANG!"
"CLANG!"
The sound of metallic strikes immediately echoed across the battlefield, one after another in succession.
"Don't tell me Fake Out plus Double Slap can be combined with Power-Up Punch..." Chris complained helplessly. If that were the case, how many attack-boosting stacks could Mienshao accumulate with these consecutive strikes?
He couldn't let himself be led around like this.
"Stomp!" Chris issued his command.
Mega Blaziken suddenly stomped the ground.
Violent shockwaves spread immediately, attempting to repel all surrounding enemies.
But Mienshao had no intention of retreating. It stepped lightly and soared upward like a swallow, evading the shockwave. However, it would have to pay the price for its recklessness in the next instant.
Mega Blaziken's "Stomp" had been mixed with "Fire Pledge."
"BOOM!" A pillar of flame erupted from beneath Mienshao, threatening to engulf the sky itself.
At the critical moment—"Brick Break!" Mustard issued his command.
Mienshao's eyes flashed. Its right paw gleamed with dazzling light and slashed downward suddenly, cleaving the flame pillar straight through its center. The sharp chop carved a two-meter-deep groove into the ground with its momentum before even making contact with the earth.
However, Mienshao wasn't at all relieved to have escaped danger. Within range of its mental awareness, Blaziken was approaching like a meteor. Electricity crackled across its entire body, and its raised kick seemed to contain infinite power.
Seeing the attack incoming, Mienshao trembled all over, knowing it couldn't possibly dodge this kick.
All it could do now was—
"Quick Guard!"